With Arms Wide Open

Chapter 19

Ryder's feet dragged along the smooth metal floor as she made her way through the cargo bay. She could have very easily taken the ladder just outside of the cockpit, but she would have arrived too quickly. She needed time to prepare for the unrelenting shit storm  that awaited her in the Med-bay. And if she knew anything, is that it was going to give her one hell of a headache.

All too soon she found her self standing just outside the door, staring at the holo sphere lock as she thought of the perfect explanation. It was simple really, she didn't have a choice. Besides, everything worked out for the best, right? She's here, pulse and all, ready to listen to the good doctor ream her out about her idiotic decisions. Surely Lexi would agree it was much better than the alternative. Stuck in the Archons evil clutches, doing Stars knows what.

She looked down, placing a hand over her stomach. "No worries, little one. Mommies got this under control." And as the last word rolled off her tongue the door opened.

Liam stepped outside, rubbing his shoulder with a pain-stricken look on his face. "Christ doc! I know you're pissed at the Pathfinder but-" his eyes locked onto hers and he froze. Panicked, he shook his head, silently mouthing RUN.

"Is Ryder there?" Lexi called out sternly from over her shoulder.

"Uh-um...no! Nope! Just me! And my arm. My painfully assaulted arm." He exaggerated, his eyes continuing to urge Ryder to escape.

"You're a terrible liar, Liam." Lexi sighed. "Come in Ryder."

Liam leaned in and whispered. "There's still time. I can hold her off while you make a run for your room."

Ryder smiled back. "Thanks, but I'll be fine."

"Suit yourself." He said, walking past her. "Just don't come crying to me when you can't lift a pistol."

She chuckled lightly when Lexi barked. "Ryder. In. Now."

She winced under the harshness of Lexi's tone before looking down at her stomach once again. "It's fine. Everything's fine." She whispered, as though trying to convince herself.

She stepped inside, swallowing hard as the door screeched shut behind her. She looked around the pristine room, picking her fingers as she waited for the verbal annihilation that was certain to come. Hopefully it would it be quick, or perhaps she'd be lucky and it wouldn't even happen at all? She peeked over at Lexi, seeing her blue, aero, bicycle helmet-shaped head hunched over her station as she harshly plucked away at the keys. The forceful clacking echoed like nails sealing a coffin, dimming her hopes of a peaceful protest.

Unable to take the awkward tension any longer she cleared her throat. "So, did you uh...call me here to congratulate me on a successful mission?"

Lexi's shoulders stiffened, her fingers freezing above the keyboard. "Congratulate?" She replied in a tone Ryder could only describe as a seething whisper.

"Well, yea." Ryder continued, scratching the back of her head. "I mean the team returned breathing AND in one piece. Sounds like something worthy of congratulations to me." She'd hoped her nonchalant approach would help lessen the heightening tension, but Stars was she wrong. So very wrong.

Lexi's fingertips curled into her palms and she slowly turned around. Her eyes fixated on Ryder as though trying to pierce through her like the searing tip of an Omni blade. Her lips were formed into a tight line, her temples flexing as she clenched her jaw.

Oh, shit. Ryder thought, shrinking back slightly. It was in that moment Ryder knew she fucked up.

"Sara. Tess. Ryder." Lexi hissed, her hands shaking in tightly balled fists at her sides. "You, as well as I don't believe that!"